NationStates Jolt Archive

The young priest murmured “Doctor Pavioli,” and stepped away from the door. The physician, a stocky, balding man, entered the Office of the Vatican Secretary of State, and nodded respectfully to the lean, swarthy Secretary, Guido Cardinal Gambino. “Eminence.”

Gambini tried to read the news in the physician’s demeanor, but the man was self-contained, neutral. “Well, Doctor?”

Pavioli shook his head, allowing a tinge of regret to enter his manner. “It is as we feared, Eminence. Four, perhaps six months, at the most. The deterioration has progressed too far to be reversed. At the best, we can keep His Holiness comfortable.”

Gambini sighed, and looked past the Doctor for a moment, at an exquisite Tintoretto Madonna that adorned the wall of his office. His lips moved, silently, then his eyes again focused on the Doctor. There was a grave regret, matching the physician’s own demeanor, in his response.

“And you have informed His Holiness of this?”

Pavioli gave an expressive shrug. “I would not have done so, perhaps, but His Holiness had already guessed. He demanded to be told the truth.”

Gambini knew that stubborn insistence that the Pope could muster, the iron will behind the fragile, aging façade. “I understand. How did he take it.”

The doctor hesitated, his brows drawing together slightly in bemusement. “He seemed— irradiated by joy. He tried to comfort me. And, he asked to see you at your earliest convenience. But he will be resting now. Later this afternoon, he will be awake, and the medicine will give him some energy.”

The Secretary of State nodded. “I see. Well, you have our gratitude, doctor. You and Doctor Mirelli, and Doctor Sterzinsky. You did everything you could. Everything he would allow you to do, in any case.”

With a blessing, he dismissed the man, and then pushed a button connecting his phone to the office of the Cardinal Camerlengo.

Later that afternoon, he was admitted by Tito Mrenski, the Pope’s valet, to the Papal bedroom.

The huge Renaissance four-poster with its canopy embroidered with the Papal seal had been modified by a specially-designed electric gel bed. At the moment, it was adjusted to allow the tiny figure within the mound of coverings to sit up. Faded gray-blue eyes lit up at the sight of the Secretary of State for the Holy Vatican See.

“Bienvenuto, Guido. Thank you for coming.”

Gambini went to the bed, raised the wasted, near-skeletal old hand, and kissed the Ring. “Holy Father, I am glad you could receive me.”

“Sit, sit…” Sixtus VI, Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of The Universal Church, Patriarch of The West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and Sovereign of Vatican City State, waved vaguely at a chair positioned near the bedside.

“Holiness, I…” Gambino started, then stopped. He could not think of what to say.

Sixtus regarded him shrewdly for a moment, then broke into what could only be described as a grin. “Dear Guido, have you come to rejoice with me? I am going home. Home, my son. I feel indescribably blessed.” The grin faded. “I admit, there is an element of cowardice. I think of the suffering yet to come…”

“The doctors…” Gambini began quickly.

“Yes, yes. Of course. But I must keep my wits about me for a while yet, and their remedies do not make that possible. I must use them sparingly. Well, the Lord will lend me such fortitude as I need.”

He surveyed the Cardinal fondly, but with a deep knowledge of the man that took into account years of differences as well as support. “And so I leave the Church in the hands of my beloved sons, Guido. I know that you will look after her well, and choose a worthy successor. I have but one regret.”

“Regret, Holy Father?” Gambino let a touch of disapproval tinge his voice. Perhaps more than any Pope in the last 100 years, Sixtus had done much to build the Church’s strength and unity. In a time rife with divisive issues, among a plethora of nations and cultures all seeking for the Church to meet their varying needs, he had managed to retain a gentle but firm hand on the helm, steering her between the looming shoals of modernism and anti-modernism, evangelism and ecumenicism, addressing controversial issues delicately and as a last resort, while expanding the Church’s steadying moral influence through social and humanitarian leadership.

The Pope chucked. “Such vanity. Did I say one regret? I lose count, surely. But one that you can assuage for me, dear son.”

Gambino had known this was coming. There was no way of preventing it, circumstances had simply spun out of control lately. “The College.”

“Si, sicuro. The College. We are down to… how many brothers?”

“Forty-one,” Gambino said, a trifle hollowly. It was not supposed to have reached this point. He had hoped to hold it at a safe and unobtrusive (and easily managed) eighty or so. But age, war, and the will of God had taken their toll. The depletion of the College of Cardinals could not, would not, be ignored. Especially not with a Conclave looming.

Sixtus closed his eyes briefly. “Ah. We have been most remiss, Guido. Most remiss. I cannot leave the Church so barren of resources and leadership.”

“No, of course not, Holiness. You have…” Gambino wet his lips, a trifle nervously, “you have a list? In petto?

The pontiff nodded. “A list, yes. But I would also seek counsel from you, Guido. And others. I would ask you to bring me a list of those of our brothers who are due, or overdue,” ruefully, “for elevation. As I am asking a few other counselors for the same. You will have them for me next week? This is not a matter that can be allowed to proceed with the usual Vatican… lethargy.”

Gambino nodded. “But of course, Holiness. I will give it my earliest attention.”

‘Because even if I don’t,’ he thought grimly, ’I can trust Renard, and di Corneliano, and Hume to have lists ready and waiting. And God only knows who else.’

“Oh, yes, Guido, and the Crown Cardinals. There are far too many vacancies, or nominations that have not yet had their official confirmations. Please, contact the heads of state for all Crown Sees, and ensure that they present their nominees as well. Schedule the Consistory for…” the pope sighed. He was starting to look tired, the shadows deepening under his eyes.

“Next month, Holiness?”

“Early next month, please, my son.”

When he got back to his office, the first person Gambini called was Ersilio Colasuonno, the President of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. Archbishop Colasuonno, scion of a Roman banking family with deep roots in the Church, had an encyclopedic grasp of the higher clergy and all the resources of the Holy See’s formidable financial and information networks.

OOC: The RP Scenario

I’d like to be able to do an RP on the Conclave to choose Sixtus’ successor. If you represent a Catholic nation, or a nation with heavy Catholic population, and want to participate, submit your “nominations” or your “appointed but unconfirmed” Cardinals to one of the following people, from whom the Pope is soliciting lists. You can RP contacting, or being contacted by, the Nominator who most closely reflects the views of your characters and/or governments.

Nominators:

Guido Cardinal Gambino, Titular Archbishop of Albano and Vatican Secretary of State (perhaps the most powerful man in the Vatican after the Pope. Then again, perhaps not.)
Gambino represents the “Old Roman” faction of the College. These are the career Italian administrators and bureaucrats of the Church, whose focus is on maintaining the Church’s temporal power and influence in world affairs based on politics and money.

Jean-Paul Cardinal Renard, Titular Archbishop of Calcedonia and Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Renard is the spearhead for the reactionary “back to our roots” movement in the Church, those who want to sweep away the liberalizing reforms of the last fifty years, abandon ecumenicism, restore the old interpretations of Canon Law, revive the Inquisitorial Courts, and basically return the Church to the Thirteenth Century.

Bonaventura Eugenio Tosi Cardinal di Corneliano, Titular Archbishop of Palestrina, and Cardinal Camerlengo (he will administer the Conclave to choose the new Pope.)
Corneliano sees the future of the Church as dependent on missionary expansion, especially into less-developed nations. He wants the Church to focus its vast resources on developing strong mission presences, not just theological, but medical and social advancement, where large numbers of poor and/or oppressed people need hope. Theologically, he is orthodox and closely aligned with Sixtus’ policies of mediating between progress and reaction.

Michael Stephen Hume, Titular Archbishop of Porto Santa Rufina, and President of the Pontifical Council for InterReligious Dialogue (his See also makes him second in rank among the Cardinal Bishops and Sub-Dean of the College.)
Hume is the opposite of Renard. He believes that the only long-term hope for the Church lies in progressive liberalization of the Faith to broaden its appeal among the more sophisticated, tolerant, wealthy nations, and to give it moral authority in a rapidly modernizing multiverse. He believes that the laity should have more power in local Church affairs, and that the Church should be making steady progress towards the ordination of women.

About Crown Cardinals
The “Crown Cardinals” (in RL only represented in Austria, Spain, and Portugal,) are Cardinals appointed in consultation (or at the nomination of) Catholic Sovereigns, with whom the Church has a treaty to permit the Sovereign to nominate, or approve the nomination of.

If you are a Catholic monarchy, and have (or would like to have) a “Crown Cardinal,” you can send your nomination, or the name of a Cardinal already serving who should be ‘officially confirmed.’ (Not a RL Church requirement, just a way to get them into the RP, and we’ll forget about it in the future.)

It would be helpful if you could provide a link or describe the Cardinals you’re putting in the RP.

Bump!

Bump!

Nicely set up. I suggest getting in touch with Jeruselem (yes, spelled with an 'e') or another member of the 'Defenders of the Faith' alliance. I could maybe take part, although the Tanah Burung Catholic Church is a trifle ... unorthodox.

We would have a candidate, Christopher Lehman, but we are afraid he may become a target of the rebellion in the south of our nation(its always the south!). We will try to get him out of the country soon to make him an official candidate. Christopher has devoted his life to helping those who need his help most. He help eliminate poverty and his goal is to follow in the foot steps of mother Terrisa(excuse my spelling). We will update you on our progress of removing him and possible putting him withing the Vatican, if possible.

Cardinal Esteban, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will be prepared to welcome (Bishop? Archbishop?) Lehman. Please specify which Cardinal's list of eligible candidates for elevation he would be most likely to appear on. (See above re: factions within the Church/College.)

Tanah Burung's unorthodox representative might come in very useful to round out either Cardinal Corneliano's (He is concerned with developing the strength of the church in poor and/or developing nations,) or Cardinal Hume's (the liberalization faction) list of Candidates.

OOC: Menelmacar has a Catholic church... it's very small, though, perhaps two and a half million people, but the country itself is important enough to warrant having a Cardinal. I can do him as a (relatively young, only a few centuries old) Elf, or if you really prefer, as a human.

~Siri

OOC

Well, well, a nice Catholic RP without the hoo haa ...

IC

Cardinal Augustus Brown heard about the news while preparing an anti-Pedophile bill for the Jeruselem parliament to approve. He summoned his assistant Archbishop Ceallar to send his nomination to the Holy See ... "Ceallar, prepare my nomination immediately. I have things to do in Rome".

Submission

Name: Cardinal Augustus Brown
Nation: Jeruselem (should be Jerusalem, but fugged the name up)
Background
* Born to poor parents but adopted by the local Catholic Church of Jeruselem
* Was sexually abused by a local Churchman, but stayed in the Church to take justice
* Became the youngest Bishop in Jeruselem history at 25
* Archbishop at 29
* Cardinal at 35
* Crusader against poverty and child abuse

Current posts
* Cardinal of Jeruselem (Senior)
* Minister for Culture and Religion
* Special delegate for religious matters with Arabs and Jews

Our nation is one-third Catholic. Is that large enough to send the Cardinal of Nanakaland over?

Father Domenico Valenti sat at his desk and muttered something unclerical. Obviously those idiots at the Communications Office had messed it up again.

Father Valenti, Secretary to Cardinal Esteban (Dean of the College,) was in charge of routing the correspondence regarding clergy being considered for elevation in what would certainly be Pope Sixtus VI’s final Consistory. At least four Cardinals had warned the Dean that they would be preparing lists, at His Holiness’ request, and had left it to the Communications Office to ensure that correspondence from the various clergy reached the appropriate nominating Cardinal.

Father Valenti looked at the pile of correspondence on his desk. Not a single one indicated how it should be routed within the Vatican, which Cardinal should receive it, etc. What a disaster, if a cleric to be nominated by Cardinal Hume got routed to Cardinal Renard! Or if Cardinal Gambino accidentally got correspondence intended for Cardinal Corneliano!

With a sigh and a brief, silent penance for his impatience, he pulled forward a stack of paper and began to write letters.

Jeruselem first. That would be a Crown See for Mariah I, which, strictly speaking, did not need to be routed through one of the Counselors. Still, if Cardinal Brown were one of Gambino’s sympathizers, it would not do to route his correspondence through Cardinal Corneliano’s office—there had been friction lately. Cardinal Hume might be a safe bet, since Cardinal Brown was rumored to be liberal, but still, it would be smart to check.

To His Eminence Augustus Cardinal Brown, Cardinal of Jeruselem, respectful greetings in Christ. The Dean’s Office has received notification Queen Mariah would appreciate His Holiness’ confirmation of your appointment as Crown Cardinal at the upcoming Consistory, and that you plan to attend.

As you are aware, His Holiness’ illness has forced him to delegate much of the preparation process to his Counselors. With your approval, all correspondence relating to the upcoming Consistory and your formal confirmation will be handled by the office of Michael Stephen Cardinal Hume, Sub-Dean of the College of Cardinals. If this should not meet with your approval, please advise us as to which of the Counselors on the Consistory Planning Committee you would prefer to handle these matters.

Well, that was simple enough… the others were more of a challenge. With a sigh, he pulled out a fresh sheet of paper.

To the Coordinator of Clergy for Largent, respectful greetings in Christ. The Dean’s Office has received correspondence relating to the potential elevation of one Christopher Lehman at the upcoming Consistory. Please advise us as to the following: The current See held by the Most Rev. Lehman, and which of the Counselors on the Consistory Planning Committee should be handling the correspondence relating to this matter.

He was on a roll, now.

To the Coordinator of Clergy for the Roman Catholic Church of the Empire of Menelmacar, respectful greetings in Christ. The Dean’s Office has received correspondence regarding the desire of the Menelmacari Church to have a member of the Clergy elevated at the upcoming Consistory. Please advise with the name of the candidate, and which of the Counselors of the Consistory Planning Committee should be corresponding with you regarding this matter.

Also, in regards to your request for clarification regarding the status of Eldarin clergy, please be advised that since the publication of the Encyclical “In Apostolatum Eldari,” establishing the recognition of Eldar souls, exhorting the evangelization of the Eldar, and authorizing the ordination of Eldar clergy, no valid impediment is recognized to exist to the elevation of Eldar clergy to any cardinalitial office, should the Holy Father elect.

Father Valenti chuckled. Just watch Cardinal Renard try to keep from blowing his stack if the Menelmacari Cardinal is an elf! he thought. Then he crossed himself and vowed penance later for such an uncharitable thought about a Prince of the Church.

To the Coordinator of Clergy for the Roman Catholic Church of Nanakaland, respectful greetings in Christ. We believe there has been some confusion in recent communications from this or other Vatican Offices, and would like to clarify the various matters currently of concern. The most urgent matter is the upcoming Consistory for Elevations, at which His Holiness will announce the names of new Princes of the Church. He has appointed four of his Counselors to a Committee for Planning the Consistory, and they are currently corresponding with various clergy being considered for elevation. If you have a Bishop or Archbishop, or other member of the Clergy, currently being considered for elevation, please advise us of his name, and to which of the Counselors you would like to have the relevant correspondence routed.

As regards the attendance of existing Cardinals at the upcoming Conclave, all Cardinals will of course be kept informed of the state of His Holiness’ health and any arrangements required for a Conclave, by the Office of the Cardinal Camerlengo.

Finally, the most ambiguous one of all.

To the Coordinator of the Clergy for the Roman Catholic Church of Tanah Burung, respectful greetings in Christ. We have received some correspondence regarding a possible candidate for Elevation to cardinalitial office from Tanah Burung. Please advise us as to his name, and which member of the Consistory Planning Committee you would prefer to handle correspondence regarding this matter.

Well! That was an afternoon’s work. Perhaps he should stroll over to that little shop on the Via del Osservatorio that had such lovely langostino….

OOC: being a total catholic nation I'd send a guy but....
The issue is: what canon law is law is 'law' in this thread
What of our documents do you follow, what powers do you believe the vatican can weird, will this be another popish nation who excomunnicates people for NO ACTUAL Doctrinal reason....
will this RPG be doctrinal based?
I mean....can a elf be a cardinal! can a nation appoint its own cardinals or demand one? (according to real life NO-Only a male human can follow the line of priesthood and no nation may demand a cardinal no matter how important they think they are....)

just some random thoughts

OOC: being a total catholic nation I'd send a guy but....
The issue is: what canon law is law is 'law' in this thread
What of our documents do you follow, what powers do you believe the vatican can weird, will this be another popish nation who excomunnicates people for NO ACTUAL Doctrinal reason....
will this RPG be doctrinal based?
I mean....can a elf be a cardinal! can a nation appoint its own cardinals or demand one? (according to real life NO-Only a male human can follow the line of priesthood and no nation may demand a cardinal no matter how important they think they are....)

just some random thoughts
OOC: Menelmacar didn't 'demand' the appointment of a cardinal... presumably the previous pope (who was played by "St Peter" for some time, you recall, and was quite friendly with Menelmacar - yeah, that's the guy who excommunicated you) appointed one... my statement that Menelmacar is important enough that there'd probably be a cardinal there was an OOC one.

As I said, I'm willing to RP a human for this if it would be less of a hassle.

~Siri

Belem is a 100% Catholic nation and we will send a cardinal.


OOC: more coming tommorow I must now journey to the land of dreams for I must wake up in 4 hours.

OOC

Yup, Brown is Moderate/Liberal. Looks like you seem know a bit of Jeruselem already. :)

OOC Clarification for Iesus Christi:

This is The Holy Roman Catholic Church as founded by Peter upon the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, with an unbroken Apostolic Succession from Peter through the current Pope, Sixtus VI.

With regards to doctrine, the RP as envisioned retains the existing RL history and doctrine of the Church up through the death of Pope John Paul II on August 9th, 1998. The current Pope, Sixtus VI, was elected to succeed him on October 12th, 1998.

After this divergence from the RL history of the Church, an unspecified amount of time has passed (it depends on precisely which of the multiverses you are counting it from.)

The character of Sixtus VI's papacy (as enumerated in the RP scenario above) has mainly been one of relatively conservative moderation. A few significant Encyclicals have been released, the most controversial of which is probably the one following the report of the Papal Commission on Sentience.

That Encyclical recognized that since all organic sentience is solely the product of God, the Father and Creator of All Things, therefore all sentient beings must be presumed to have souls, and therefore it is the duty of the Church to evangelize all sentient beings and bring the message of Christ to them, and bring them into the Church's loving Communion.

Of course, this Encyclical was controversial. (The Church is certainly no stranger to controversy!) It was an Encyclical, and not an Ex Cathedra pronouncement, and therefore some theologians have argued that it may be open to further clarification, or even amendment, in the future. However, for now it stands as part of the slowly-growing body of Established Doctrine of the Church.

At the time of the Commission, some agitated for consideration of non-organic sentience. The Commission recommended to His Holiness that as non-organic sentience is ultimately the product of organic sentience, it cannot be presumed to share in the divine nature of the Creator (have a soul.) The subsequent Encyclical was silent on the point, and the current doctrine denies the souls of non-organic sentients. They may not be received into the Church.

His Holiness Sixtus VI has released nine other Encyclicals during his Papacy, none as controversial in nature as "In Apostolatum Eldari". (At some point we'll get around to publishing a list.)

The device of allowing NS players to "nominate" their own Cardinals at this point is purely an RP mechanism. Theoretically it is the Pope and his Counselors who are actually making these nominations, but, since we don't know every Catholic players' characters or histories, we can't stick out a finger and say "Hey, you, come and get a red hat."

If this concept works and Holy Vatican See becomes a recurring Nation involved in other RPs, developing a history of its own, we will play it the way the RL church is operated-- the works of particular clergy may come to the Holy Father's attention, and He will recognize them, either in petto or publicly, at a Consistory called for the purpose.

If Catholic players are interested, we'd be open to an OOC "amnesty period" as it were, when they can submit the names of already established Cardinals, and we will assume that they are already members of the College. At some point, if this becomes a really useful device, we might even establish a web site for the College where NS players can track the membership and interact separately. But that's a long ways away, and depends on how these first couple of RPs go.

We intend to play this nation very much the way the RL Church operates. You don't see the RL Church handing out reams of ex Cathedra pronouncements, declaring Crusades and Inquisitions, loudly excommunicating or anathematizing scores of people, etc. On the other hand, you DO see the Church simply refusing to recognize or lend its sanction to the more bizarro manifestations and perversions of doctrine, quietly slapping an internal gag on the more wacko advocates of extremist interpretations of doctrine, etc.

This Church will continue to tread the same line the RL Church is treading between the various factions within militating for liberalization or returns to more conservative interpretations, between the church's internal spiritual responsibilities and the external temporal moral leadership required to actualize our Faith. We can see many interesting opportunities for internal/external politics creating fascinating RPs and taking the future development of the church in some surprising directions, but those directions will proceed in a natural flow from real doctrine as influenced by the RP'd events.

The RL Church studiously avoids intervention into the politics of sovereign nations, and so will this Church. That is not to say that we won't exhort the Faithful to act within the appropriate temporal parameters of their nation's politics to actualize the Christian principles of Faith, but it will be couched as the RL Church couches such exhortation-- that individual Catholics, acting lawfully as citizens of their nations, follow the dictates of their consciences and the teachings of the Church in political affairs.

As regards overtly Catholic nations, this Church will, again, interact with them the way the RL Church interacts with RL Catholic nations-- that is, they will not meddle overtly with political affairs, and will exert the influence of the Church through assisting the individuals who profess our Faith with spiritual, rather than temporal, guidance. (You don't see the Holy Father excommunicating the entire political leadership of Ireland just because they finally got around to recognizing civil divorce, do you?)

In short, the RL Church is a spiritual, rather than a temporal, authority, and this Church will be played on that same assumption. The only temporal authority we assume is over the precincts of the Holy Vatican See and the established Institutions of the Church.

And no, there IS NO INQUISITION, and this Church will not recognize any such institution as valid. Questions of doctrine, interpretation, etc. should be submitted to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which will reprove doctrines opposed to the principles of the faith after the interested Bishops of a region have been heard. It will also study the books referred to it and, if necessary, reprove them after the author has been heard and has had an opportunity to defend himself and after the Ordinary has been forewarned. (Frankly, we're just too busy to read and comment on every book published.)

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also examines whatever concerns "the privilege of the faith" whether in law and in fact. It is competent to pass judgement on errors about the faith according to the norms of an ordinary process. It safeguards the dignity of the sacrament of Penance. It will proceed administratively or judicially according to the nature of the question to be treated, with the usual level of deliberation. (Meaning, not by tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, that's for sure. What's an aeon or two to an Eternal Church?)

So please, if you're RPing some version of Catholicism that involves fire-breathing Inquisitors hiding under every bed and torturing unbelievers, holding public burnings or shrieking witch hunts over the airwaves, stay in some other multiverse unless you want your Church to be an acknowledged separate variant with its own name, similar to the Churches of Oriental Rite, the Coptic Church, the Anglican Communion, etc. We could have lovely ongoing dialogues through the Congregation for the Variant (in RL Oriental) Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Hope this clears up any uncertainties?

Clear as glass. \^_^/

I'm very impressed thus far. Keep up the good work.

~Siri

Clear as glass. \^_^/

I'm very impressed thus far. Keep up the good work.

Deo gratias!

In re: the Menelmacari Cardinal, we'll leave it up to your judgement. The mun thinks an Elven Cardinal might provide some interesting twists, but you have way more experience, so if you think it would just totally hijack the RP into an Elf/Human controversy thread, go with a human.

#tag#

OOC: being a total catholic nation I'd send a guy but....
The issue is: what canon law is law is 'law' in this thread
What of our documents do you follow, what powers do you believe the vatican can weird, will this be another popish nation who excomunnicates people for NO ACTUAL Doctrinal reason....
will this RPG be doctrinal based?
I mean....can a elf be a cardinal! can a nation appoint its own cardinals or demand one? (according to real life NO-Only a male human can follow the line of priesthood and no nation may demand a cardinal no matter how important they think they are....)

just some random thoughts
OOC: Menelmacar didn't 'demand' the appointment of a cardinal... presumably the previous pope (who was played by "St Peter" for some time, you recall, and was quite friendly with Menelmacar - yeah, that's the guy who excommunicated you) appointed one... my statement that Menelmacar is important enough that there'd probably be a cardinal there was an OOC one.

As I said, I'm willing to RP a human for this if it would be less of a hassle.

~Siri

OOC:that excommunication and a score of others was the reason for my OOCLY ignore of it as a event being it wasnt based on any doctrine of the church(the amount of pre V2 doctrine was....annoying). I have a massive OOC beef with ....certain...(poor)interpretations of actual church law

as for your explaination from H.V.S. I thank you very much OOCLY for the time and work that went into your reply. It was most englightening/VERY well done(and very clear) and assuming such tenets of doctrine/RPG form were stuck too I'd love to send a Cardinal:)

I'd send my Cardinal who is obsessed with Pastores dabo Vobis-Cardinal Patrick McCullum:)

OK, first, thanks for the great work on this. It's so refreshing to see someone come in so sensibly instead of "I am Pope, bow before me!" :wink:

The Tanah Burung Catholic Church has been around for several hundred years, originally as mission territory but now as a self-standing national church. There is a duly constitued Bishops' Conference, of which the coordinator is F.X. Mangunvijaya, Bishop of Burung-yang-membuat-dunia (usually, for obvious reasons, known as BYMD City). Tanah Burung is a third-world country governed on extremely libertarian lines with no crown or titled aristocracy. The church is vaguely liberal, but not to the extent of being "progressive" in the European "Wir sind Kirch" sense. The unorthodox aspects are in the realm of sexual morality: the church does not recognize divorce or abortion, but does permit contraception to prevent the greater evil of the spread of disease. Most controversially, it recently began to confer the sacraments on gay people, including the sacrament of matrimony for same-sex couples. I have played this as a logical near-future divergence from current Vatican teachings but am happy to play this is an affiliated eastern-rite or Anglican-type church if that seems more appropriate (or to come as a church in good standing and be excommunciated in the near future, alternatively).

Cardinal Esteban, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will be prepared to welcome (Bishop? Archbishop?) Lehman. Please specify which Cardinal's list of eligible candidates for elevation he would be most likely to appear on. (See above re: factions within the Church/College.)

Tanah Burung's unorthodox representative might come in very useful to round out either Cardinal Corneliano's (He is concerned with developing the strength of the church in poor and/or developing nations,) or Cardinal Hume's (the liberalization faction) list of Candidates.

Lehman is an archbishop. Also, if I understand your question correctly he would be a candidate for crown cardinal. If I misunderstood your reqest just say so. Also, late last night, Lehman was loaded onto a plane headed for the Vatican. After several hours they were almost there.
"Request permission to land." on pilot said.
*crackle*"permission granted."
As the plane landed Christopher Lehman stepped out with his guards. After no sign of anyone trying to harm him his guards were told they may reboard and head back to Largent.

OOC: Note: the OHI, or Office of Holy Inquisition is a Government Office created by (St.) Grand Lord Vladmir Wulf to create a perfect Catholic State, Church posts in the office were honorary until Grand Lady Claudia gave full command of the office to the late Bishop Jerry Wulf (her cousin) who resently died of a stroke.

IC: Offical Responce

The Armed Republic of Khallaca III, which is 100% Roman Catholic will send Cardinal Hansel Jerry Prussia. Born in 1950 to an upper class family but renounced his wealth and joined the clergy at 20, became Bishop at the age of 29, Archbishop at 40, and then Cardinal at 48. He has done work with the offical OHI, (Office of Holy Inquisition), the office that for the past 62 years has sought to remove all threats to the faithful Roman Catholic Faith which is the State Faith of Khallaca III since the creation of the nation in 1945. Cardinal Hansel has also founded several hospitals and been an avid supporter of the restoration work in St. Agatha's in the city of Angelica.

*Current Posts*
Cardinal of Khallaca III (Senior)
Councilman of the OHI
Minister of Culture and Religion
Church Liaison with the Khallaca Government

Submission
Name: Cardinal Paul Brown
Nation: Sancto
Background
* Was the archbishop of The Federation of True Christians (region) for a while.
* Recently premoted to cardinal after a long time as archbishop.
* Is now 54 years old.

Current posts
* Cardinal of Sancto (Senior)
* Ambassador from the Federation of True Christians
* Sanctan Minister of Religion

To: Cardinal Bonaventura Eugenio Tosi de Corneliano, Cardinal Camerlengo

The Office for Clergy in Effrenata is responding to your request for additional information about Nikos Threehorn, Archbishop of Narakanda.

The Archbishop is a convert. He was raised in an orthodox Marenkalan family, but exposed to the Church through our Ministry for Youth Education in the Maccedol Regions, and requested instructions at age 14. At age 15, he was baptized into the Church, and on the recommendation of the mission priest, was sent to the Seminary of St. Anselm in Orado.

As a young priest, Father Threehorn first served in diocesan ministries in Kertebren and Vistlarna. At the age of twenty-eight, he was sent to establish a new Mission in the Elaigan Region. The Maccedol regions of Effrenata are almost entirely Muslim and Marenkalan. Elaigan and the neighboring regions of East Kirinli, Vilpar, and Megerhant are extremely rural areas with the highest rates of poverty in Effrenata. Father Threehorn's work in the humanitarian ministry and the evangelization of Maccedol peoples was distinguished, and he was recommended as the first Maccedol Bishop.

As Bishop, he not only established a small but viable Catholic presence in the Maccadol Regions, but opened fruitful Intra-Faith dialogues with the Muslim and Marenkalan churches on the development of joint humanitarian works.

He became Archbishop five years ago, and has been working very effectively to broaden the Church's outreach within Effrenata, and to promote unity among the disparate Tribal groups in the Church.

OOC:

This particular thread seems to be evolving into a housekeeping/setup thread, so we will start another thread titled “Cardinals Gather for Sixtus VI’s Final Consistory” to get the actual events started.

First to deal with questions:

Most controversially, it recently began to confer the sacraments on gay people, including the sacrament of matrimony for same-sex couples. I have played this as a logical near-future divergence from current Vatican teachings but am happy to play this is an affiliated eastern-rite or Anglican-type church if that seems more appropriate (or to come as a church in good standing and be excommunciated in the near future, alternatively).

Tanah Burung, this Church has not (yet?) recognized the extension of the sacrament of Matrimony to same-gender unions, nor sanctioned the Ordination of “publicly gay” clergy. Either your church is indeed a Variant Church with its own name & hierarchy, (in which case you might also have a small orthodox Roman Catholic minority population with Roman Catholic clergy to send,) or your Church is at risk of becoming schismatic. In which case, you can still send someone, but….

Since we’re just getting started with this concept and the current goal is to more fully establish the College and (ultimately) elect a new Pope, we’d prefer not to hijack this thread into a looming Schism theme. That could be a fun thread to play out once we’ve got this business out of the way, however.

So let us know if you do decide to send clergy for elevation to the rank of Cardinal, or to send an existing Cardinal of orthodox outlook to the Consistory and Conclave. We’re guessing that since you’re a developing nation, your clergy would feel closely aligned with the priorities of Cardinal di Corneliano, but on the other hand, you may prefer Cardinal Hume’s more radical liberalization agenda. Please specify, if you plan to participate.


Also, if I understand your question correctly he would be a candidate for crown cardinal.

Largent, are you a monarchy? Who is your sovereign? We couldn’t find a Fact Book Entry for you, so a general update or links to some threads that will provide background on your nation would be appreciated.


He has done work with the offical OHI, (Office of Holy Inquisition), the office that for the past 62 years has sought to remove all threats to the faithful Roman Catholic Faith which is the State Faith of Khallaca III since the creation of the nation in 1945.

Khallaca, can you link us to some threads that will give us a picture of your OHI? It is possible that His Holiness might have requested the Cardinal Prefect for Secular Institutes or the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura to look into the issues pertaining to clerical participation in these governmental activities. If so, His Holiness (or, more likely, one or more of his Counselors,) may wish to have a private meeting with you before or after the Consistory. The methodologies used by secular governments to promote and/or secure the Faith are starting to loom as a real issue before the Church. (Grounds for future threads? A Synod?)


as for your explaination from H.V.S. I thank you very much OOCLY for the time and work that went into your reply. It was most englightening/VERY well done(and very clear) and assuming such tenets of doctrine/RPG form were stuck too I'd love to send a Cardinal:)

I'd send my Cardinal who is obsessed with Pastores dabo Vobis-Cardinal Patrick McCullum:)

Iesus Christi, we cannot guarantee that doctrine will not change depending on RP’d events, but we will be quite firm about where it is “now,” which is quite orthodox. (But remember, even within the bones of orthodoxy, there are constant discussions on the evolution and reinterpretation of doctrine, factions within the College and the Church as a whole pushing/pulling in various directions, etc.) You are welcome to participate for now and if things get too strange for you we can pretend it all never happened. Am I correct in assuming that Cardinal McCullum would be a close friend/ally of Cardinal Renard? If not, which of the four Counselors’ visions for the Church would he be most likely to align with? (And, BTW, apropos Pastores, have you read Cozzens?)

OOC & Setup: The Consistory & the Conclave

More on the nature of the Church
In spite of its rigidly hierarchical organization, when it is compared with the autocracy of many Nation States, the Church is a pretty democratic institution. This is based on the RL Church, where if you look at the history of the evolution of doctrine, you will see that virtually no doctrinal change or faith practice has been instituted without years, sometimes decades, of prior discussion, examination, analysis, and consultation with the Faithful at all levels. (And yes, even V2 rested on the long, slow, steady liberalizations of Pius XII, and endless behind-the-scenes councils and debates.)

The Pope almost never speaks authoritatively on a subject without first consulting the Synod of Bishops, the College of Cardinals, the theological institutions of the Church, and his own Counselors. While his pronouncements are truly his own, and proceed from his own experience and interpretation of doctrine, that doctrine is the product of 2,000 years of evolution, which he knows intimately. At every step of the way it has been winnowed and examined, and the Pope is either intimately familiar with the background of every point, or requires Papal Commissions and Counselors to examine and expound the point until His Holiness perceives the appropriate directions within the context of the Church.

In other words, even though he has tremendous power, for the good of the Church (which is his number one priority,) the Pope cannot be arbitrary in its application.


Electing a New Pope
With that clear, let us discuss what we had in mind for the Conclave RP.

Well, first, since this NS is “the Vatican,” it means that we have to RP the Holy Father, so the participants will vote for a character presented by the Holy Vatican See. BUT.

We will observe these conventions in the creation of “candidates” for Pope, to give the participants real choice, and real influence on how we will play the Holy Father and the Vatican. That’s the whole point of this RP, we will play it based on a Church composed of the Faithful (other NS participants in this scenario) and influenced by their leadership.

Yes, you’ll have to trust us on this. But it wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t play by the rules, as it were, so we’re promising here and now to do so.

So here’s how it will work:

We will start a thread on the Consistory for the elevation of new Cardinals. This will give us the opportunity to interact, “take the temperature” of the players, and present candidates through RP interaction.

Only four candidates (the four Counselors already established) will be fingered clearly as such. For RP purposes, we’ll assume that they’ve been more or less establishing leadership and support within the Church for some time.

However, based on how NS participants interact during the Consistory thread, we’ll also introduce other Cardinals who can become candidates.

(Note: In the RL Church, any Cardinal under 80 years of age may be elected Pope—any Cardinal, whether he’s been around for thirty years or just created the moment before the Pope died; whether he’s been running a big chunk of the show on display in Rome, or working quietly on a mission project in some whoever-heard-of-it developing country. But since the HVS will have to play the char, only HVS-introduced chars will be eligible.)

In the interests of keeping things objective, none of the Cardinals we will introduce will be from actual NS player nations. However, we may create or refer to some imaginary NS nations that bear a startling resemblance to real ones, if you catch the drift.

The Consistory RP will give all the players a chance to interact, establish tensions and factions, etc. We’ll use devices like having non-Cardinal and/or non-clerical observers to supply information and background on the HVS Cardinals, so that all participants will get a chance to know them, and help develop their characters by interacting with them.

When the Consistory thread is played out, we’ll have His Holiness die, and maybe do a little funeral thread, and then bring up the actual Conclave, with the Cardinal Camerlengo in charge. Voting will be handled by TG, since it has to be secret, and each “ballot” will be 24 hours long. The HVS will NOT have a vote, since we are offering all the candidates.

When the new Pope is elected, we’ll install him, and if everyone has had fun and we all agree that the Pope is worth keeping and the HVS is a worthwhile addition to the NS community, we’ll ask participants to regard it as the “Real” Vatican (for NS purposes) and start participating in other threads and starting new threads of our own keeping Church business going.

If the thread gets derailed, hijacked, deteriorates into bickering, or we do not prove ourselves trustworthy to the other participants, we’ll just call it quits then and the NS multiverses can go back to having an imaginary Pope/Vatican.

Fair?

OOC (yet again) on Cardinals…

Cardinals are not always from Catholic nations or even nations with large, well established churches. Look at the history of the RL Church in Eastern Europe during the Iron Curtain era. The Pope often had to hold a Cardinal’s nomination in petto (in his breast, that is, unpublicized) because to announce it would put that Bishop at risk for additional persecution.

It might be interesting to have some participation from nations with persecuted Catholic minorities or oppressive anti-religious regimes, etc. Remember, a big part of the Church’s care of the Faithful is ministering to the faith in circumstances of trial and difficulty, and spreading the Word even where evangelization and ministry is difficult and risky for our priests.

Fair enough on the schism. I'll make a slight adjustment to my time line to make this work: the issue of same sex-unions if before the TB Catholic Church, but as yet only the diocese of BYMD has recognized this. The other five dioceses remain orthodox on this matter, for now.

To: Cardinal di Corneliano, Archbishop of Palestrina
From: Hilario Ximenes, Bishop of Matebian

Your eminence,

The Tanah Burung Catholic Church has asked that i be nominated for elevation to the rank of Cardinal. Our church has been out of contact with the Holy See for several years, so perhaps some information might be in order.

Tanah Burung is approximately two-thirds Catholic, with large Islamic and animist minorities and some smaller cults. The country won independence some years ago and has been poor for many years, although recently the economy has begun to improve substantially.

In the church's time of isolation, it lost its contact with the missionaries who brought the faith to our shores, and had to organize itself. As a result, our church contains a wide variety of views. Nevertheless, the missionary enterprise remains central to our calling. It is particularly important here in the far western Matebian mountains of our country, where animism is still widespread among the [i]gentes[/]. I myself began in the church as a rural literacy worker before being called to the priesthood and eventually elevated to the episcopate. Thefore i have directed this inquiry to you, my brother in the faith.

He has done work with the offical OHI, (Office of Holy Inquisition), the office that for the past 62 years has sought to remove all threats to the faithful Roman Catholic Faith which is the State Faith of Khallaca III since the creation of the nation in 1945.

Khallaca, can you link us to some threads that will give us a picture of your OHI? It is possible that His Holiness might have requested the Cardinal Prefect for Secular Institutes or the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura to look into the issues pertaining to clerical participation in these governmental activities. If so, His Holiness (or, more likely, one or more of his Counselors,) may wish to have a private meeting with you before or after the Consistory. The methodologies used by secular governments to promote and/or secure the Faith are starting to loom as a real issue before the Church. (Grounds for future threads? A Synod?)

OOC: I don't have any threads with OHI activities up yet.

Yes it is possible for the Church to conduct a full investigation into all OHI activities and Church participation into the activities and a private meeting with the new head can be held.

OOC (yet again) on Cardinals…

Cardinals are not always from Catholic nations or even nations with large, well established churches. Look at the history of the RL Church in Eastern Europe during the Iron Curtain era. The Pope often had to hold a Cardinal’s nomination in petto (in his breast, that is, unpublicized) because to announce it would put that Bishop at risk for additional persecution.

It might be interesting to have some participation from nations with persecuted Catholic minorities or oppressive anti-religious regimes, etc. Remember, a big part of the Church’s care of the Faithful is ministering to the faith in circumstances of trial and difficulty, and spreading the Word even where evangelization and ministry is difficult and risky for our priests.

It would be interesting.

Belems canidate

Cardinal Demato
Age: 56

Positions held: Cardinal of Belems 1.6 billion catholics, Religious Advisor for the Imperial Council(OOC:one of the most powerful men in power)

Initiatives lead: He expanded CCD programs throughout Belem, he orchestrated fundraisers for hospitals, schools and churchs. Led expansive conversion campaigns for foreigners living in Belem who wish to gain Belem citizenship(to be a citizen in Belem you have to be Catholic.) Spearheaded construction of new churchs in the foreign quarters of Belem.


OOC: more coming soon

OOC: I asked Vatican See about this and he said it was ok.

IC: *The Vatican*

The Conclave to elect the next Roman Pontiff is convening. This is a momentous moment for the world...the fortunes and fates of the Roman Church could be changed forever, yet always, as dark forces gathered within the Vatican's walls to elect their new dark Prince...the forces of goodness and righteousness yelled defiance at the Pope and his Harlot Church.

"Say it with me now!" the 77 year old bull-necked Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley, (OOC: No anti RL Paisley remarks, though my guy is based heavily on him...and I know he wouldnt ever go to Rome) religious advisor to the Royal Crown barked to the crowd of protestors. Then the entire crowd joined in with a cry that shook the walls of the Pope's dark fortress, "ANTI-CHRIST! We denounce you and your cults and creeds!"

Paisley began to speak again, "Inside these walls, the minions of THE DEVIL are meeting to elect the next steward of the office of the ANTI-CHRIST! Let us tell them what we think of their Roman Popery! Let us tell them what we think of their PriestCraft and Idolatry!! Let us tell them what WE think about their blasphemous Mass!!! Let us tell Pa-pa straight to his wretched old face exactly what we think of him and his Scarlet, Harlot Church of Rome!!!!"

The crowd began to loudly chant in rhythm, "An-ti-Christ! A-pos-ta-cy! An-ti-Christ! A-pos-ta-cy!" Their chants swelled like a river overflowing as they waved signs with mitres surrounded by a circle and with a giant slash crossing through them. Other signs had it spelled out in latin "Papa Personna Non Grata Est!" (The Pope isnt welcome person)

"LET YOU AND YOUR APOSTACY RETURN FROM WHENCE YOU CAME!!! RETURN TO THE PIT, O MINION OF LUCIFER!!!!" Paisley barked out defiantly!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Communication from King Viktor Leipzig I to the Roman Pontiff*

I, as Sovereign of the Triune Kingdom denounce you as the Anti-Christ. I renounce your cults and creeds! I officially stand in protest against the conclave of your priests and witch doctors to elect a successor to your position. This position being the one endowed with no authority by Christ or Peter or anyone. There is no apostolic succession and not even Peter was given the power which you claim he was! I denounce your Babylonian Mother and Child religion. Mary is nothing more than a woman, evil as all men are, that was the vessel through which God bore a son into the world! Your Mass is the greatest Blasphemy upon this earth, and your unbiblical teachings and priestcraft are vile to my every sense and in the eyes of God above. May, Christ have mercy upon your souls.

His Royal Highness,
King Viktor Leipzig I

OOC: Be patient, Reichskamphen, the old Pope isn't even dead yet. Tag this thread and we'll heads-up everyone when the actual Conclave gets underway; there's other ground to be covered, first. But we do appreciate the thought. (wink)

IC:

Bonaventura Eugenio Tosi di Corneliano, Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina and Camerlengo to the Vatican, was a frail-looking man in his early seventies.

The frailness was deceptive. Physically, di Corneliano was tough as whitleather, and spiritually, he packed a wallop that had several times rocked the old-guard Vatican Bankers on their heels. They were always counseling prudence in mission expenditures, counseling delay...

He shook his head irritably, as though a fly were bedeviling him. His dinner companion, Cardinal Emmanual Thiandoum, Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, chuckled. Eugenio must be thinking about the Bank again.

"It is very encouraging news, however," he offered, having swallowed his capellini di saron. Although he spoke Italian with the pure Roman vernacular syntax, the slight accent of his North African origin remained overlaid in his speech.

"His Holiness will elevate both Ximenes and Threehorn. They are both well aware of the importance of broadening the scope of our missionary efforts, coming from their backgrounds."

The Cardinal Camerlengo nodded, but he was not optimistic. "I just know that old fox Gambini has something up his sleeve. He's had Colasuonno and Francois Balland in and out of his office steadily for the last couple of days. And don't forget, my friend. He still has the lion's share of influence among the current incumbents of the College."

Thiandoum took another forkfull of capellini and regarded his old friend with a smile. "If the Lord intends our mission work to prosper, the Lord will send us all we need to make it so."

Cardinal Patrick McCullum would favour Jean-Paul Cardinal Renard, but at the same time would also favour any traditional force.
Being very traditional Cardinal McCullum wouldnt stand for any 'talk' agains the Second Vatican council or Rome itself.(So.....reactionary schism is his enemy!)
The over 2.3 Billion catholics of Iesus Christi know McCullum to be out-spoken on ethical issues such as abortion/genetic research, and under his leadershop the Iesus Bishops conference started work to spread 'the gospel of life' documents and ideas throughout the nation.
At the same time McCullum, unlike many of his bishops , doesnt comment on politics in his nation often.
The Blessed Thomas Beckett is his personal 'hero' ...and generally dislikes anything that isnt 'orthodox'.

OOC: Cardinal Hume? That isnt fair! "searching for God" is one of the most intersting books ever :) (he would have been a amzing pope. RIP Cardinal Hume)
Patrick McCullum would also be a great fan of the works of Cardinal Basil Hume(o.s.b) :)

OOC: Cardinal Hume? That isnt fair! "searching for God" is one of the most intersting books ever

OOC: LOL, wondered if anyone would notice. Michael Stephen Cardinal Hume is our notion of what Basil would have been if he were just a bit more on the liberalist side.

You probably DON'T want to be part of the Renard group, if we're reading you correctly. Does the name "LeFebvre" ring a bell?

OOC: LOL, wondered if anyone would notice. Michael Stephen Cardinal Hume is our notion of what Basil would have been if he were just a bit more on the liberalist side.

You probably DON'T want to be part of the Renard group, if we're reading you correctly. Does the name "LeFebvre" ring a bell?

OOC: You read me exactly Right (Lefebvre....make his own bishops will he! )
So yes, While McCullum is a staunch conservative.....but not a schismist!

OK, the Consistory thread is up. PLEASE try to keep OOC chatter on that thread to a minimum... we will keep this thread active for housekeeping business and to orient new participants, such business can be handled here.

We still need names of the bishops or archbishops to be elevated (or Cardinals making their way to the Consistory) from Menelmacar and Nanakaland.

Participants are still welcome to join in up through the Conclave thread itself.

BTW, anyone who wants to be very well-prepared for the Conclave can follow this link:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html

This Constitution will be the model our Conclave will work from, we will assume that Sixtus' Constitution on Papal Elections made no substantial changes or innovations.

OOC: Hmmm...

pity.

I'll have to waive my right to vote, as Cardinal Richelieu is in Roanian Nationalist Territory right now, supervising the gas chambers, along with half of the other Roanian Cardinals.

And the others have either been shot, or are stuck in Republican held areas.

OOC: We can see that if this concept works out, our next big thread will have to be a Commission on Church-State relations, under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to discuss the participation of the Clergy in various secular efforts to "promote the Faith" not in conformity with current doctrine and policy....

yikes! 'Gas chambers?'

Also, just a reminder that the Consistory thread is up. Will continue to nudge this one from time to time to keep it available for housekeeping and possible new participants.

OOC: Might be a good idea.

Does mean that 30 cardinals can't participate.

Submission
------------------------------------------------------

Name: Archbishop Joseph Larzis

Nation: Ivaria (a nation of which 70% of its 6 million citizens are Roman Catholic; 12% are Anglican/Presbyterian; 8% are athiest; 10% are other.)

Background:
Born in the period just before the Ivarian civil war the most reverend Jospeh Larzis was born into a merchant family that suffered horrible losses during the bloody 25 year conflict.

As a result of this conflict Catholic missions (lead by the Brothers of Christ, Marist Fathers, Franciscan Friars and the Sisters of St. Joseph) came to much prominance and took control of the crippled nation's education and welfare systems - to this day 68% of Ivarian students are educated in Catholic schools, a program strongly supported by Archbishop Larzis. Organisations like St. Vincent de Paul, Anglicare and the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Equality are major aids in social welfare and reform, especially withing the Ivarian minorities.

Archbishop Larzis recieved primary education with the Sisters of St. Joseph and then continued his education at St. Augustine's College (administered by the Christian Brothers) untill at the age of 18 when he was admitted to the nations largest Seminary - Mary Mother of Christ Theological College - where he trained for 5 years untill finally being ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.

After his ordination the most reverend worked in poor communites struggling due to the prolonged conflict. At the end of the war he was ordained Bishop of Nathul where he served for nearly a decade before accepting a position as Archbishop of Belenia - a position he has held for almost 20 years. In addition to this duty he heads the Nation Council of Churches as well as being the patron of the Ivarian Social Justice Society and Special Minister of State, in the portfolio of Religion & Religious Diversity. Not to mention his position as spiritual leader of this nation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus i hope that the Archbishop of Belenia is worthy of elevation to the College of Cardinals - after close to four decades of loyal service - and would like to pledge the continued support of the Ivarian government, behind that of the Ivarian church to the Holy Roman Church.

Yours sincerly,

Sen. Albert Swanson
Senator for Tigre, Chariman of the Ivarian Association for Poilitical and Religious Co-operation. Parliamenty ambassabor for religious affairs.

Nice bio Ivaria. Only a Archbishop?

OOC: Jeruselem, sure an Archbishop. The Consistory is for the elevation of candidates to the Cardinalate. Remember, the Holy Father is concerned that the current College membership has been allowed to lapse into too small a group for the upcoming election. So, FIRST make more Cardinals, THEN have the election with newly-made plus established Cardinals. But all Cardinals should attend the Consistory, it will give them a chance to view the possible Papal candidates and start interacting.

IC:



To Senator Albert Swanson
Senator for Tigre, Chariman of the Ivarian Association for Poilitical and Religious Co-operation
Parliamentary Ambassabor for Religious Affairs

Greetings in Christ. Your correspondence has been received by the Office of the Dean. In order to facilitate the upcoming Consistory, the Holy Father has appointed four Counselors to deal with this correspondence. May we forward further correspondence to Guido Cardinal Gambini, Jean-Paul Cardinal Renard, Bonaventura Eugenio Tosi Cardinal di Corneliano, or Michael Stephen Cardinal Hume?

Please advise at your earliest convenience. Appropriate arrangements will be made for Archbishop Larzis' reception.

In Christ,
Father Stefan Kadesky,
Secretary to the Dean

OOC: I'd like to post my own candidate for this..


IC:
On the faraway land of Tepalguana, news reached the Emperor immediately, and a great dusk settled over the Imperial nation.
But like the omnipresent Paschal Mystery, the Emperor sees some good may come out of this and begins to write a letter to the curia. Inside the letter is the bio and status quo of Tepalguana's head of religious matters.

Name: Don [Arzobispo (Archbishop)] Francisco Chavez
Age: 54
Ethnicity: Mexican/Tepalguanic

-A blood-stirring orator, caught the attention of the present Emperor at a rally and quickly earned mself the favor of the State by supporting Inquisitorial courts and Missionary Involvement in Tepalguana
-Fluent in Latin, Spanish, English, and French
-Ordained at age twenty-two, was active in worldwide missions for twenty some years
-Named Archbishop of Buenavista at age fifty, position he he holds to this day, Buenavista being tha nation's heartland.

OOC: I'll just give you background information:

Government style: Democracy

President: Johnston(exgeneral)

# of wars involved in: 3

In the middle of a civil war

Member of the Iron Alliance

Major terrorist event: A while back members of the past monarchy rebelled and planted a nuke under a major city. The conflict was peacefully resolved.

Amount of pop. enlisted: .05%

Standing army: 5 million

Currently involved in weeding out terrorism

Majority of pop is Catholic

Ethnic make up:
white: 76%
African: 12%
Latino: 6%
Pacific Islanders: 5%
Others: 1%

I'll give you links if you still want.

A blood-stirring orator, caught the attention of the present Emperor at a rally and quickly earned mself the favor of the State by supporting Inquisitorial courts and Missionary Involvement in Tepalguana

Tepalguana, did you read the earlier description of this particular NS Vatican? The part about there not being an Inquisition? We're playing this Vatican as having essentially the same doctrine and policies as the RL Vatican of today, plus a couple of minor mods to get the RP set up.

There is at least one other participant who has an "Inquisition" that is a civil institution, not a church institution. If that's your case, too, then by all means, welcome!

But Torquemada died centuries ago in this RP, and the Church long ago switched from burning heretics to deploring the death penalty and urging good Catholics to follow their conscience and oppose it in their own nations, although we will never formally intervene in civic affairs or discipline any individual lay Catholic who disagrees on this point from a private standpoint.

This is the church that works for peace and social justice. (Well, yes, there's still a lot of not-so-subtle intellectual and moral conditioning going on here, too... and Vatican politics can get pretty ferocious in a highly civilized way, but no one is slipping poison in anyone's drink, if you get the picture.)

This is the church whose priests and nuns get shot because they stand up to corrupt dictators who are oppressing their people.

Yes, it's also the church dealing with internal challenges about the nature of the clergy, the tragic scandals of abuse, the Vatican bank peculations, the controversies about gay peoples' participation in the Sacraments, the issues of human life and birth control, cloning, etc.

We have our conservatives who want to restore the Tridentine Mass and think V2 was a mistake, etc. They would happily un-consecrate all female deacons, boot lay councils out of parish and diocesan governance, etc. They'd happily see certain vigorous advocates of more extreme liberalization excommunicated. But they are not advocating using the authority of the civil regime to compel Catholic orthodoxy. By now we (the Church) have seen too many dismal centuries of the other side of that-- when a civil regime uses its power to compel non-Catholic orthodoxy, or, worse, atheism.

We know for certain that John Paul II (Sixtus' predecessor) did not elevate any Cardinals who are reincarnations of the more lurid, Torquemada-esque school. Given how this Vatican is conceptualized, it's unlikely that Sixtus did so, either.

Sorry for the rant, but we don't want this concept hijacked from the git-go. Maybe we'll get to the whole issue of civil compulsion eventually, but at this point we're coming down on the side of orthodoxy as currently experienced in the RL Church.

If you are okay with participation on that basis, Tepalguana, we're very pleased to have you. Let us know, either way.

OOC: I'm new at this RP thing, please bear with me.

IC: The Commonwealth of Ladovy Hokej would like to put forth it's Archbishop, James Michael McComack, as a candidate for the rank of Cardinal and to be elegiable to vote in the next conclave. Absp. McCormack is 55 years old and has been Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ladovy Hokej for almost 10 years. He is very conservative, and will likely vote along the lines of His Eminence Cardinal Renard.
Ladovy hokej is about 85% Roman Catholic, 10% Lutheran, and 5% other.

OOC: Disregard that last post. The one on page 2. Ill start here.

IC: The Protestors being sent from the nations of Greater Prussia, namely, Reichskamphen, Russapovia(now absorbed by another kindom), Scotta, Christimiles, Wiedergrad, and Jedi Revolutionists to protest the Papist enclave were prepared for their journey into the belly of the beast. They were waiting for the others to arrive, and then for the ship, the RNV Martin Luther to convey them to a port in Holy Vatican See where they would thence travel to the gates of Hell on earth and begin their protest.

Suitcases dotted the dock as thousands mulled about in waiting. This was to be no small protest. It was only the prayer of the heirarchy that none of the Protestors would be harmed by throngs of Papists sure to be gathering round during those days of darkness.

The head of the Protest, the 77 year old Religious advisor to the Crown, Rev. Dr. Ian R.K. Paisley surveyed the progress being made and the masses preparing to embark on their quest. "This is a beautiful sight," he said to his wife Rhonda as they both looked on. "I am gone to do the Lord's work. Rome may want my head for this, so If I do not come back, I want you, and my son, to carry on. " He kissed his wife goodbye and walked into the crowd whereupon he was greeted by a great cheer from hundreds of the ones nearby. "Time to go lads! The ship is here!"

OOC: Thanks for the update, Largent. That's enough to go on for now. Lehman cannot be a Crown Cardinal, as you do not have a monarch sovereign, but he can certainly be a Cardinal.

Welcome, Ladovy Hokej, Cardinal Renard will be pleased to have Archbishop McComack, certainly.

Reichskamphen, thanks. BTW, the Vatican is in the midst of the City of Rome, which has no port. Nearest substantial port would be Naples, so you'll have to RP getting from Naples to Rome, and then to the Vatican, through the intensely Catholic Italian people.

A reminder to all that the RP action has started at the Consistory thread here:

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2723646#2723646

Here is an update on participants:

Bishops & Archbishops to be elevated at the Consistory

Name// Nation// Orientation
Abp Christopher Lehman// Largent// ?
Bp Hilario Ximenes// Tanah Burung// ?
Abp Nikos Threehorn// Effrenata// di Corneliano
Abp Joseph Larzis// Ivaria// ?
Abp James Michael McComack// Ladovy Hokej// Renard

Existing Cardinals to be Confirmed or Attending the Consistory

Augustus Cardinal Brown// Jeruselem// Hume?
Cardinal Demato// Belem// ?
Patrick Cardinal McCullum// Iesus Christi// ?
Hansel Jerry Cardinal Prussia// Khallaca III// ?
Paul Cardinal Brown// Sancto// ?

Interest has also been indicated by Menelmacar and Nanankaland, although not confirmed and we do not have names.

(BTW, does anyone know how to format tabbed lists on this darn thing? Share, please?)

To: Father Stefan Kadesky
Secretary to the Dean

Dear Father Kadesky,

Your message was been recieved quite warmly, my thanks for your quick reply. It would be much appriciated if you would forward the case of Archbishop Larzis to one of the four appointed counselors as soon as humanly possible. My thanks to you, and the thanks of Ivaria.

Sincerly,

Senator Albert Swanson
Senator for Tigre; Chariman of the Ivarian Association for Poilitical and Religious Co-operation; Parliamentary Ambassabor for Religious Affairs

OOC: Sorry for my lateness, hoping I am not too late. BTW: My nation is a Holy Empire, working on the property of a Chosen Ruler.

IC: Kaiser Josef Of The Grand Holy Empire of German Catholics has unfortunatly been delayed in addressing the issue at hand. My Nation of Catholics offers up Cardinal Fredrick von Schwangau to the Vatican. Our nation is devout with our Patron is Saint and Martyr Sebastion. Due to recent threats from Protestant forces our Cardinal shall be accompanied by 2 Platoons of our crack "St. Ignatius of Loyola" Mechanized Infantry Division. The Cardinal is ready to move as you command.

Cardinal Fredrick von Schwangau
Age: 64
Personal Advisor to the Emperor
Background: A conservative Catholic froma Conservative Nation, Von Schwangau comes from the more conservative part of the nation, the southern mountain Germans. He showed a great aptitude for Relgious Knowledge early in life. Born of Nobility he was the chosen successor of the Duke of Schwabische Wald. He abandoned his future of Nobility for a future of piety when he joined the seminary out of his secondary education. He met the Kaiser after initiation into the Priesthood. He quickly rose to Bishop of Schwangau then Archbishop. When he became the Cardinal he was accepted as the Confessor of the Kaiser and his close personal adviser. He is firmly rooted in traditional beliefs and opposes any alterations after VC II unless they revert back to old forms.

OOC: If this is not ok just ignore it ill delete it I am just bored.

IC: In the military harbor of Gibralter in the area on loan to the Empire, under the cover of darkness three destroyers, leave their moorings. As soon as they enter safe waters they turn their engines to a cruising speed of 35 knots. They are under combat blackout, save for one small light on the outside of the boat near the command deck. The flames of burning paper are still in this area for the wind does not reach here. The face is revealed to be Captain Martin Freibert of the HRS Schwarzewetter, all markings on his boat and his accompaniment are gone. On the paper is the Imperial Seal and what is left unburnt reads:

By orders of the Imperial Kaiser Josef you are to steam at full speed to an attempted intercept of all ships that contain protesters to his Holiness the Pope. This is a black order all proof of Imperial involvement is to be destroyed upon arrival. This authority comes from the Authority of your Catholic Monarch who now invests all Authoritative judgement on Captain Martin Freibert.

As the last of the paper burns and the Imperial Seal is Destroyed, XO Bernd Eutin comes out to the captain.
-So, Herr Capitain those were our orders
-Yes, Herr Eutin we no longer serve his Glorious Imperial Majesty.
-If we are caught Herr Capitain, What then?
-Then we pray for mercy Herr Eutin
With that Freibert retired to his quarters, these would be dark days coming...

please be patient with me, this is my first role play outside regional forums! sorry if its too late

Application for elevation:

Name: John Dutt
Age: 58
See: Dudgeon
Nation: High Umbrage
National Background: High Umbrage became a Calvinist theocracy after a revolution 25 years ago against the ruling house of Wu. The House of Wu were patrons of the church, and chose its bishops in consultations with the Pope. Although he styles himself a Cardinal, Oliver Bim has banned the Catholic faith as "Papist idolaters who worship a mere woman as the Mother of God, sniffers of Roman undergarments, traitors to the land." Many people have been forced to recant their catholic faith at the point of a sword.
Applicant background: McGough is a former priest in the diocese of Dudgeon, the national capital, and an intimate of the last Archbishop of Dudgeon, Ken McSweeny. McSweeny was jailed and later executed on the orders of the theocracy's government for refusing to recant his allegiance to Rome. McGough is a secret Catholic, one of a widespread network of priests who ministers to the estimated 250,000 Catholics remaining in the underground church, which meets secretly in the homes of members. He is officially employed as a janitor at the former royal palace of the House of Wu, the old monarchical family, and has occionally celebrated mass in the palace on high holy days.

German Catholics, we welcome Cardinal von Schwangau for confirmation as the Kaiser's Crown Cardinal to the Grand Holy Empire of German Catholics; we're sure Cardinal Renard will give him a warm welcome in spite of the French/German thing.

However, please note that security for the Vatican and the Conclave is being undertaken by the Pope's own Swiss Guards, augmented by the ******(Italian?) State Security under the Lateran Treaty. Foreign troops under arms (other than a modest personal security force) will have to be negotiated separately with the State Security Forces and will probably be accepted only subject to placing themselves under the orders of the Security Coordinator.

(If there is a nation appropriate to RP Italy more or less as it really is, they are welcome to jump in. Another possibility might be the Dominion of Dread Lady Nathicana, since that is Italian-based (albeit secular.) Let's see if anyone materializes on this.)

High Umbrage, the Holy Father is anxious to recognize a Cardinal for your nation's beleaguered Catholics, but is concerned about two things-- first, is the Bishop of Dudgeon Dutt or McGough, and second, will he be able to make the Consistory without difficulty or should the Holy Father hold his nomination in petto until he is able to actually arrive, in order not to endanger his life? Please advise.

Name: Viktor Rhienhold
Age: 73
Nation: United Star Empire of Valinon
National Background: The United Star Empire of Valinon was created by colonist from the dying Kingdom of Pholus in the Alpha Centauri system. Most of the Valinor are from Old Earth's Southern German extract, but there are strong "minorities" of British Isles, Great Russians, and Swiss. Along with Old Earth Japanese and Korean extract from the former territories of the Dominion of Outer Centauri. The religious diagram of Valinon falls along these lines: 79% Catholic, 11% Anglican, 5.8% Taoist, 3.2% Eastern Orthodox.
Applicant Background: Viktor Rhienhold grew up in the outskirts of Augustgrad, capital of the Valinor province of Syberia. He came from the background of people who had little to go on but their faith, and lived as wage laborers to the industry of the conglomerates that may Syberia their base of operations. Viktor's father was killed when he was called to serve in the Outer Dominion Wars, and his mother never really recovered from the loss. After her death, Viktor was raised in the orphange of St. Michaels, Syberia's largest cathedral. After coming of age, Viktor entered the priesthood and has since been a force in the Valinor branch of the Catholic church for many years. Currently Viktor Rhienhold is the Archbishop of Dresider, the Archdiocese that merges the Valinor provinces of Syberia, Arhus, and New Stuttgart. He is seen as a primary successor of Cardinal Fane, the Cardinal of the Fatherland of the Valinor on Proxima.

The Papacy in Exile has been leading the Catholic Faithful in their region, ever since all communication with the outside world had been cutoff in a horrible catastrophe. Finally, a signal has gotten through to the region.

"Your Holiness! We have received a message! It is from the Vatican!" exclaimed Papal Nucnio Cardinal Thomas Lannan

"After confirmation of this message I will step down from my post, I will no longer reign as Supreme Pontiff, at last, we can return to Rome."

"They are asking us to send Cardinals, Holiness."

"Perhaps they will accept their lost brethern, eh Thomas?..."

The Papacy in Exile formally submits their cardinals.

Tim Cardinal Magnus
Age:58
Born in The Papal States, he was elected Supreme Pontiff when tragically his region was completely cut off from the outside world. He reigned as Tittular Bishop of Rome;
Vicar of Jesus Christ;
Successor to the Prince of the Apostles;
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church;
Patriarch of the West;
Primate of Italy;
Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of Rome;
Sovereign of the Vatican City;
and Servant of the Servants of God
in the absence of outside communication. Pope Tim II was very careful to retain The Church in his region, hoping and praying for the day when he and his faithful could again contact the outside world, vowing to step down as soon as it took place. Having received said message, with great relief he made contact. Hoping that his former, and unprecedented stint as Pope would not cause ill will, he immediatly made plans to meet with Pope Sixtus VI.


Thomas Cardinal Lannan
Age 57:
Cardinal Lannan was originally very liberal, having received his elevation to the Red Hat just before communications went down. Over time, the Cardinal of the titular see of Jamestown, turned back to Rome, and became one of the most Conservative Catholics in his region. Although uneasy about having to elect a Pope, he did so for the interests of his people. He too felt that as soon as communication came back online that the interim pope would have to step down. With great relief, when the time came Pope Tim II did indeed step down from his position, and re-enter the Communion of Rome. Cardinal Lannan is staunchly conservative, and is also in favor of vast missionary work, as he has seen what a lack of faith can do to a region.

OOC: Wow...so much stuff. I shall be away until Sunday, so don't elect the Pope until then, the demonstrators arent even at the Vatican yet! As for German Catholics wishing to attack my ship, I can rewind events backwards and allow for that to happen, but it woudl have to be sunday.

Valinon, are you aware that the age limit for Cardinals to participate in a Papal Election is eighty years old? Although In Apostolatum Eldari has raised the issue of extending that limit, based on the lifespan of Eldar clerics, as yet the formal exception has only been extended to them. Human Cardinals must be younger than 80 in order to vote or to be elected Pope.

PE3, you do present an interesting challenge. Can we assume that your "Cardinals" all date to elevation by either John-Paul II or Sixtus VI? Only a validly elected Pope can make a Cardinal, although any Cardinal can ordain other ranks of clergy. In such case, we must assume that you have not been out of touch all that long. The establishment of a schismatic Papacy under such circumstances, even in light of your tragic catastrophe, is not a matter to be lightly dismissed. No devout Catholic would do so unless, perhaps, they believed that Rome, herself, had been destroyed.

The participation of your "Cardinals" in such a serious violation may potentially invalidate their status as Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. We take schism extremely seriously. Perhaps, however, you simply elected one of your Cardinals as Dean of your Church and personal representative (in exile) of His Holiness? In order to establish lines of authority for the efficacy of your Church's operation? Let us know. If you truly want to be schismatic, we'll play it out later in another thread. (And you'll potentially have to get in line behind Tanah Burung, we think they're planning to go schismatic as soon as we have a new Pope, LOL...)

Reichskamphen, you have gobs of time. Let us reiterate:

1. Consistory for the elevation of newly-made Cardinals and the confirmation of Crown Cardinals. See here:

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=122417&highlight=

That will take some time to play out.

2. The death and funeral rites of the Pontiff (thread to be established after the Consistory is held and His Holiness has properly elevated all Cardinals, he's still alive, darn it, so don't write him off yet....

3. The Conclave itself for the election of the new Pope (probably will start concurrently with #2, by that time we should have a groove going...)

While it's obvious to the whole world since the announcement of the Holy Father's failing health and the scheduling of this Consistory that a Conclave is in the offing, it could be a matter of weeks or months (RP time) before it actually happens. So, plenty of RP time to do it up right with lots of detail and interaction. No one has to hurry to keep pace with events. (This is the Church, remember? Anything done in less than a decade is considered "expedited.")

Totally, totally OOC. Holy Vatican See, you are doing a great job, most lucid thread involving religion on NS. yay. :)

OOC: Holy Vatican See, check your telegrams, please. Also, I'm going to send a few others.

Cardinal Augustus Fane, Age: 137, will be attending in an observing capacity only. Cardinal Marion, Age 200 of Pholus, and Cardinal Garnet, Age 105 of Nessus Prime, will be doing likewise. With exception to the fact that only voting members can enter the Conclave. Cardinals Valdemar, 68, and Northcliff, 78, will be the only Cardinals in attendance that can vote at the Conclave

Cardinals Valdemar, 68, and Northcliff, 78, will be the only Cardinals in attendance that can vote at the Conclave

Thanks for the clarification, Valinor. Please note that no matter how many Cardinals a Nation/participant "sends," each participant gets only ONE vote per ballot at the Conclave.

Logistics post is up on the Consistory thread.

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=122417&highlight=

Firstly, yes, our Cardinals were, indeed, validly elevated. By Pope Sixtus VI's predescessor.

Secondly, A nuclear holocaust befell the region, cutting off outside communication, causing all within the region to believe that not only Rome, but virtually the whole world had been destroyed. In order to keep the Catholic Church's hiearchial structure intact, the Cardinals who could be found were rounded up in order to hold a conclave. Pope Tim II was then elevated.

Pope Tim II has not elevated any more cardinals, instead relying on those that remained after the disaster. Pope Tim II, fearing that there was still possibly a valid pope, was very careful to not make doctrinal changes, instead, defending those that were in place prior to the communications shutdown. All of his flock are now prepared to enter into the fold, glad to return home.

The Papacy in Exile had absolutly no intention of being schismatic, but feared they had to take the chance. We have returned to Rome, and beg Sixtus VI's forgiveness, and readmittance.

Roman Attache,
Cardinal Thomas Lannan
(Former "Papal" Nuncio)

OOC:

We'll see how it works out, Cardinals Lannon and Magnus noted and expected. BTW, does your nation have a name other than "Papal Embassy 3?" Or did your former (destroyed) nation have a name? So we can refer to "the lost Cardinals from ___________?"

I have never RP'ed before, but.....

I would like to send one of our Arch-Bishops to Rome as the delegate from The Conservative Order. His name is Eamon O'Donnell. He, despite his heritage, is very conservative, and also wishes to aid Cardinal Renard in any way possible. We would also like to thank the Holy Vatican See for setting up this conclave for the Catholic Nations of Nationstates.

Thank you.

Instead of My puppet nation of The Conservative Order, I would like to send Eamon O'Donnell to the Conclave.

OOC: I forgot that I was still The Conservative Order when I posted.

I will vouch for The Conservative Front, to send Eamon O'Donnell as the delegate.

OOC: I needed proof to show that I was telling the truth.

Welcome, Conservative Front. Archbishop O'Donnell will be expected at the Consistory.

In a day or so I'll get around to posting a roster on this thread just so we can keep all the current participants straight.

that sounds like a good idea...i'm already kinda confused :lol: lol

In order to make things more clear the Cardinals from PE3 will now be recognized as the Cardinals from Cestusdei.

I have already spoken to Holy Vatican See about this.

OOC: Status Update

Lots of participants, some people may be getting confused about who's who and what's what, etc.

WHO

As of now, the following Archbishops and Bishops are expected to attend the Consistory for elevation to the Cardinalate:

Name // Nation // 'Sponsor' (if known)

Abp Christopher Lehman // Largent
Bp Hilario Ximenes // Tanah Burung
Abp Nikos Threehorn // Effrenata // di Corneliano
Abp Joseph Larzis // Ivaria
Abp James Michael McCormack // Ladovy Hokej // Renard
Abp Viktor Reinhold // Valinon
Abp Eamon O'Donnell // Conservative Front // Renard

One additional Archbishop whose name is being held in petto will be elevated.

The following Cardinals are currently attending or planning to attend the Consistory (and, presumably, the Conclave):

Name(s) // Nation // 'Leanings' (if known)

Augustus Brown // Jeruselem // Hume
_______ Demato // Belem
Patrick McCullum // Iesus Christi
Hansel Jerry Prussia // Khallaca III
Paul Brown // Sancto
Frederick von Schwangau // German Catholics // Renard
Relond Valdemar & Winston Northcliff // Valinon
Timothy Magnus & Thomas Lannon // Cestusdei

Cardinals Augustus Fane, Dorian Garnet, and Mithan Marian are also attending the Consistory from Valinon, but will not be participating in the Conclave as they are over the voting age limit.

Menelmacar and Nanakaland have indicated interest but named no attendees.

==============================

WHAT

As of now, the Consistory thread is up and clergy are arriving in Rome. Already arrived are:

Candidates for Elevation:
Lehman
Reinhold
Ximenes
McCormack
Threehorn

Plus one incognito

Cardinals attending the Consistory:
The Valinon Cardinals
Magnus & Lannon
Prussia
Brown
Demato

At this point, everyone is still free to wander around, meet each other, talk to each other, etc. We can assume everyone has formally checked in with the Dean of the College's office, unless someone wants to specifically RP that (just have them show up.)

No one is 'obligated' to meet with anyone unless specifically requested in the RP, but Bishops/Archbishops whose elevation has been recommended by one of the four Counsellors might want to stop by their offices. Likewise, Cardinals who are already considering who might be Papal material may make opportunities to 'meet' the Counsellors or other HVS Cardinals who may pop up.

Otherwise, participants can wander around the Vatican, hang out at the Hostel, meet each other, etc., while the remaining players show up.

We have tried to do one long introductory post about each of the four Counsellors who are clear candidates for the new Pope. Renard and Hume are already up, di Corneliano and Gambini will be going up in the next couple of days.

Once everyone is here and the Counsellors' introductory posts are all posted, we'll hold the Consistory.

It should also be noted that a largish group of anti-Catholic protestors are marching from Civitavecchia to Rome, presumably to express their displeasure with the elevation of yet more anti-Christ Cardinals or whatever. However, as we've tried to make clear, Vatican security is plenty equal to the task of keeping the Cardinals safe.

(IOW, this is NOT an assassination/attack/violence thread. If this all works out maybe that can happen in the future.)

Thanks, everyone. We're very excited about how well it all seems to be working out so far.

HVS

... and Nanakaland have indicated interest but named no attendees.

Sancto is my other nation. I decided to use the more religious one for this RP.

OOC:

Thanks for clearing that up, Nanakaland.

OOC: HVS, Cardinals aren't the Anti-Christ, only the henchmen thereof. The Pope is who Viktor is saying is the antichrist, although not necessarily just this pope, it is the office of the Papacy, the Papal dynasty that is the anti-Christ or the great Apostacy. Just clearing that up so there would be no confusion. There will soon be another boatload of Protestors arriving from other parts of the world at Civitaveccia, so if German Catholic wants to attack that ship, he is welcome to, may be an interesting RP, but for a separate thread.

OOC: HVS, Cardinals aren't the Anti-Christ, only the henchmen thereof.

Oh, well, that's alright then. :P

Name: Brian Harold Wulf
Age: 75
Nation: The Holy Republic of Khallaca III
Office: Bishop of Angelica

History: Brian Harold Wulf, the nephew of the current ruler of Khallaca III, the Grand Lady Claudia Wulf is the son of David and Krystal Wulf (David is Claudia's brother). He was born and raised in the city of St. Luke, the capital of Khallaca III in the comforts only incredible wealth and riches can bring. But Brian was not content with the life of leisure and joined the clergy at the age of 21 and at the age of 50 became the Bishop of Angelica, a city that is only 17 miles away from the national capital. Most of Brian's most resent work has been fund raising at various schools for the poor all across the nation.

{Coded Portion of Message}

Brian is also the secret head of an unnamed group within the OHI that works to save as many lives as possible from the Inquisition and expose it's corruption and immoral behavior.

The Consistory and Ceremonies for the Creation of Cardinals by Sixtus VI

First, sometime in the next day or so all of the new Cardinals will be measured for, and have delivered to them, their Cardinal’s clothing: A red wool cassock lined with red silk, a white surplice (rochet) to be worn over the cassock, the short red cape (mozetta), a red and gold tasseled cord, a red moiré silk sash, and red socks. There are a variety of tailors in Rome who can provide this, most will be known to Sister Renata and the staff of St. Martha’s, and the staff of all are security cleared by the corpo di vigilanzo.

(In other words, go ahead and RP this for yourself, if you like, otherwise we’ll consider it done.)

Also in the next day or so, please RP all the new Cardinals receiving a formal summons from the Dean’s office, requiring their attendance at a Secret Consistory on Saturday (actually, the RP on this and the rest of the ceremonies will go on throughout the weekend and Monday, to help everyone get into the act.) The candidates for elevation should attend in normal clerical garb with the insignia of their current Episcopal office. Current Cardinals should attend in full regalia.

Because of Sixtus VI’s ill health, the actual ceremonies will be kept to a bare minimum.

At the Secret Consistory, each attendee will first make the Profession of Faith. (The language for all of the ceremonies will be in another post in this thread, so you can cut and paste, inserting your characters’ names where appropriate.) Then an exhortation will be read by a senior Cardinal chosen by the Pope, then the Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated (scriptural readings & prayers.) Then the Holy Father will have the Camerlengo read the names of his nominees, and will ask the Cardinals present for their assent (this is pro forma, not necessary, but traditional.) They will bow their heads.

Each new Cardinal will then be presented to the Pope personally, recite the Profession of Fidelity, and the Pope will invest him with the rochet and the red zucchetto (skullcap.) From this point on, no matter what happens, they are officially Cardinals, entitled to all the functions and perquisites of the office, even if the Pope died immediately and the ceremonies had to be completed by his successor.

The Holy Father then blesses the new Cardinals, and the first Secret Consistory ends.

Later that day (this would normally be a few days later, but due to His Holiness’ impatience and ill-health, we’re packing it in close,) a Public Consistory will be held in St. Peter’s Square.

Note: For the occasion, the Square will be closed to the public, and only friends and family of the Cardinals, diplomatic representatives, journalists, members of various religious orders, and other invited, security-cleared individuals will be attending.)

All Cardinals should attend. The new Cardinals will be wearing only the zucchetto, the current Cardinals will be wearing their birettas. Normally the Pope would celebrate Mass, but in this case he will designate that duty to another. After Mass, the Pope will solemnly and publicly invest each new Cardinal with the biretta, and pronounce a solemn blessing.

Then the Public Consistory will again adjourn to the Papal audience hall to complete the ceremonies in the second Secret Consistory.

At the second Secret Consistory, the Pope will perform the ceremony of the Closing of the Mouth, asking the new Cardinals to make the profession of discretion. Then he will bestow upon each one their ring, and assign him his diaconia (Roman diocese of which he will be titular Bishop.) Another exhortation will be read by a Cardinal selected by the Pope. Finally, the ceremony of the Opening of the Mouth will be performed, reminding the new Cardinals of their rights and duties.

Note: See next post for the wording of all ceremonies.

Then they’ll all be Cardinals, entitled to style themselves (First Name(s) Cardinal Last Name) and vote in the upcoming Conclave, etc.

The names of the Cardinals to be elevated at this Consistory are:

Archbishop John Dutt, of High Umbrage
Archbishop Joseph Larzis, of Ivaria
Archibishop Christopher Lehman, of Largent
Archbishop James Michael McCormack, of Ladovy Hokej
Bishop Manveru Ravion, of Menelmacar
Archbishop Viktor Reinhold, of Valinon
Archbishop Nikos Threehorn, of Effrenata
Bishop Hilario Ximenes, of Tanah Burung

This RP will start Saturday 2/28, so between now and then you can have your candidates getting their outfits, memorizing their oaths, interacting with each other, etc. Have fun!

Here is the language of the various professions & ceremonies for the Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals. Feel free to cut & paste for your posts during the "ceremonies."

Profession of Faith
I, _____________________, with firm faith, believe and profess all and everything contained in the Creed. I believe in One God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

I believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. Eternally begotten of the Father. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, Begotten, not made; of one Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from Heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit he became Incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made Man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day, He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the Right Hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, And his Kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified; He has spoken through the Prophets.

I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come. Amen.


Profession of Fidelity

I, _____________ having been called to be Cardinal by Pope Sixtus VI, state that I firmly hold and maintain all and everything taught by the Holy Catholic Church concerning faith and practice, whether solemnly defined or asserted as part of her ordinary Magisterium, especially those doctrines touching the mystery of the Church as the Body of Christ, the Sacraments, the sacrifice of the Mass and the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.

And I do solemnly swear, that from this time forth until the end of my life or the relinquishment of my office as Cardinal, I will be faithful and obedient to the holy Church, the holder of the apostolic succession, and to all successors of St. Peter, canonically and lawfully elected.

I pledge my assistance, defence, and counsel to the Holy Father and the Church on all occasions as required, without regard to the influence, wishes, profit, or advancement of any person, body, institution, or nation other than the holy Church. I commit to holding the welfare and advancement of the Church and its Doctrine as my highest good in service to God and the lawful authority of the Church and my Order.

I will defend and uphold the legates and nuncios of the apostolic see, in the territories, churches, monasteries, and other benefices committed to my keeping, and I will give them all due assistance and honor in the furtherance of their duty, their aid to the faithful, and their safe return to Rome.

I will keep and carry out, and cause or uphold the carrying out of all the doctrines, laws, and declarations of the Church, the decrees, ordinances, dispensations, reservations, provisions, apostolic mandates, and constitutions of the Holy Father Sixtus VI and of his canonically and lawfully elected successors.

I will give no advice, consent, or assistance against the lawful authority of the Pontiff and the Church, and I will never knowingly and advisedly, to their injury or disgrace, make public the counsels entrusted to me.

The Closing of the Mouth (clausura oris)
I, _______________, do solemnly swear, aver, and signify that I will hold in silence unto death the counsels entrusted to me under the seal of silence, and will never reveal any counsel given or received concerning the interests of the Church and the Holy Father to the injury, harm or disgrace of the Church and the Pontiff.

The Opening of the Mouth (aperitio oris)
I, _______________, do solemnly swear, aver, and affirm that I willingly and solemnly undertake the right and the duty to provide my counsel, to vote as my conscience and my understanding of the Doctrine of the Church directs me, and to speak forthrightly and without regard to the interests of any but the Church and the Holy Father in all matters which it will fall unto me to consider.

I apologize, but due to an RL commitment I will be unable to be on NationStates until late Sunday at best. Please forgive me for not being able to be there. If it becomes absolutely necessary, someone can roleplay Rheinhold at the ceremony. Once again, my apologies. I hope I do not disrupt plans too much.

I apologize, but due to an RL commitment I will be unable to be on NationStates until late Sunday at best.

No reason why that should be a problem, Valinon. The Consistory RP will be 'current' from Saturday through Monday, and a little inconsistency in order of posts shouldn't throw things off too much.

The “First Secret Consistory” will be posted on Saturday; the “Public Consistory” will be posted on Sunday, and the “Second Secret Consistory” will be posted on Monday. Each post will have several parts representing the different parts of the ceremony.

We will not be too concerned about the actual sequence of responses, etc., since it’s clear that players have different schedules, etc. If you are a to-be-elevated Cardinal, please try to post at least once on one of the days, to indicate you are “participating” in the ceremonies, etc.

If you are already a Cardinal, feel free to chime in with appropriate responses, sotto voce observations, background material, etc.

This is a good time to note in RP how very fragile the Holy Father’s health is becoming. Also a good time to start noting and/or commenting on the demeanor and character of the four papabile Cardinals—Gambini, Hume, di Corneliano, and Renard.

(For those who haven’t been following too closely, there is at least one long expository post on each of them in the Consistory thread, as well as some “interaction” posts that reveal more about their characters, opinions, etc.)

The next step: The death of a Pope

In a day or so, we will start a new thread for all the players who have been involved so far, on the declining health and, ultimately, death of Sixtus VI. This thread will coincide with the HVS players not being able to post frequently for a week or so, so we hope you will help out by interacting among yourselves and starting to discuss who might make a good Pope, the qualities the Church will need in the upcoming decades, etc.

We will try to post the occasional update but our access to computers will be limited between the 6th and the 12th, so please be patient. On our return we’ll wrap up that thread and initiate the Conclave.

If you have not participated in the Consistory thread, but would like to discuss having a Cardinal in Rome for the Conclave, please do two things:

Read this thread very thoroughly, as it contains a complete description of this particular version of “the Vatican,” which may not necessarily be congruent with your particular NS multiverse’s conceptual “Vatican.” You should also look over the Consistory thread: (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=122417&start=200) since it has a lot of character development of the Cardinals who are papabile—Papal material. (That is, they’ll be the candidates at the Conclave.) If you like this version and want to participate in the upcoming RPs, please
Telegram the Holy Vatican See, and include a description of your nation’s Cardinal(s) with their full name(s.) Remember, no matter how many Cardinals your nation has, you can only vote once per ballot in the Conclave. Please be patient, as noted above we’ll have limited access to computers for awhile.

Thanks very much to everyone who has been participating so far. We’re creating a very rich RP environment with wonderful possibilities!

(OOC Note: The thread on the death of Sixtus VI has begun here:

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2849306#2849306)

i think this is the right thread to say this. i want to apologize to those who wanted hume elected. i voted for hume every time, and then when the thread said that all requests to vote would be telegrammed, i stopped voting until the next telegram, which never came. if i had understood, i would have continued voting for hume and the other guy wouldn't have been elected. or at least, not yet. so, sorry to all of you who are disappointed, but i was just following what i thought was the proper procedure.